Couch-hammock.



W. P. HAMMOND & R. W. SOULE.

COUCH HAMMOGK.

APPLICATION FILED 00121, 1912.

1 ,091,1 30. Patented Mar. 24, '1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. HAMMOND, OF CHARLESTOWN, AND RUSSELL W. SOULE, 0F EVERETT,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO CLARENCE H. YOUNG, OF BOSTON, MASSA- CI-IUSETTS.

GOUCH-HAMMOGK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 1, 1912. Serial No. 723,330.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM P. HAM- MOND, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Charlestown, county of Sufiolk, State of Massachusetts, and RUSSELL W. SOULE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Everett, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Couch Hammocks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of 'a couch or settee hammock of improved construction, possessing strength and durability with simplicity, and provided with a back so constructed and arranged that it can be varied readily as to its effective height.

We have also provided means whereby the back can be adjusted to vary the angle or inclination thereof to: suit the comfort of the occupant when using the hammock as a settee.

In the present embodiment of our invention the seat frame of the hammock is upheld by flexible suspending members, preferably chains, overhead connected in pairs, and each pair of such members is secured to an end of theframe.

To prevent drafts fabric wind shields are used at the ends of the hammock, as w1ll appear hereinafter, said wind shields being so constructed that they inclose and protect the suspending members for a considerable distance above the'seat, thereby improving the appearance of the hammock and also preventing any possibility of the garments of the occupant becoming caught or injured by the suspending members.

The back is connected in a substantially broken out, of a couch hammock embodyingv plan view of a part of the readily detachable connection between the hammock end and the back.

We have shown the hammock as having a rectangular seat frame, comprising rigidly connected transverse and longitudinal rails 1, 2, Fig. 1, of any suitable construction, and having an. attached wire or other flexible seating 3 rovided with elastic connections, such as t- 1e helical springs'l, at the ends thereof, the seating sustaining a cushion 5 of usual construction.

' The seat frame is sustained by pairs of flexible suspending members 6, 6, preferably chains, each pair being in practice attached at their lower ends to the end members 1 of the frame, and united by a suitable overhead-connection 7 above the frame at a suitable distance therefrom. Each pair of chains'is engaged and held spaced apart by a spreader 8, at a convenient height above the hammock seat, and we preferto make the spreaders of flat, rigid iron bars, set upright and reduced at their ends to form extensions 9, which extensions are inserted in opposite links of the two chains, see Figs. 2 and 3. Herein the connection is maintained by screwing a short-shanked screwstud 10 into the tip of the extension outside ofthe chain, as shown, but any other suitable device may be employed for the purpose.

The upturned ends of the hammock are completed by means of Wind shields 11, made of any suitable material, such as stout canvas, attached at their lower ends to the ends of the seat frame and each having at its upper end a hem or pocket 12 to receive the spreader. Each wind shield is thus interposed between theupright and substantially parallel portions of a pair of suspending chains 6 between the spreader and the seat frame. To inclose such portions of the chains, thereby protecting the garments of the occupant from catching upon or being injured by said chains, We have provided a tubular pocket 13 at each upright edge of the wind shield, to receive and inclose the chain adjacent thereto, the inclosure of the chain extending continuously from the seat frame nearly up to the spreader. A very strong, durable and neat end is thus provided for the hammock, and the protective pockets act most efliectively, preventing the slightest injury to the most delicate fabrics.

To close the back of the hammock from cross drafts and also to improve the comfort thereof when used as a settee we have provided a back 14: of flexible fabric, such as canvas, and this back is stiffened longitudinally by attaching thereto stiffening bars, inserted in longitudinal, parallel pockets 15 made in the fabric in any suitable manner.

In Fig. 1 we have shown three of the stiffening bars, 16, 17 and 18, the former at the top edge of the back and the other two spaced apart therefrom, the lowermost bar 18 being near the bottom edge of the back. The intermediate bar 17 is provided at each end with a round stud 19 adapted to be passed through a gromet 20 attached to each wind shield 11 near its rear upright edge, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and this connection between the back and the end of the hammock is made substantiallypermanent by a locking device 21 passed through a hole in the outer end of the stud.

While the connection can be separated it is permanent once the hammock is set up, the separable connect-i011 being used only for convenience in packing the hammock for shipment.

The gromets 20 are at such a height from the seat of the hammock that the bar 17 will form a convenient and comfortable shoulder rest for the occupant when the hammock is used as a settee, and in order that the angle or inclination of the back may be varied to suit the wishes of the user we provide flexible devices, such as cords 22, Fig. 1, one being attached to each end of the bar 18. The'free end of each cord has an attached hook 23 of suitable character, adapted to be caught upon the shank of one of the springs 1-. By selecting the proper spring the bar 18 will be adjusted transversely of the hammock and maintained in such position, so that the desired inclination of the back will be secured between the bars 17 and 18, as will be apparent, and wholly independent of the upturned ends of the hammock. When the hammock is used as a couch the cords 22 can be released and the back will then hang up and down and will serve as a wind shield to prevent cross drafts.

It is sometimes desirable to vary the effective height of theback, particularly when the hammock is used as a couch, and this we have provided for without disturbing the connection between the bar 17 and the end wind shields 11. The bar 16 has secured to it at each end, as by screws 24, Fig. 3, the bifurcated shank 25 of a connecting member 26, shown separately in Fig. 1:, and substantially T-shaped in plan, the plane of the member 26 being transverse to the bar. The broad end of the member 26 can be passed through the link of the chain 6 exposed between the spreader 8 and the upper end of the adjacent pocket 13 by turning the bar 16 to place the member 26 at right angles to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and then by permitting the bar to resume its normal position it will be connected terminally with the chain, as shown. \Vhen the bar 16 is thus connected with the two rearmost suspending chains, as shown, the said bar is very nearly at the height of the spreaders 8, and the maximum effective height of the back is attained. To disconnect the bar 16 it is rotated until the members 26 are in an upright plane, when they can be withdrawn at once from the chain links, and when the bar is dropped behind the back 14 the bar 17 forms the top edge thereof, the back then having its minimum effective height.

As will be obvious the connection between the bar 16 and the suspending chain is readily and quickly manipulated to either attach or detach the bar, as may be desired, and when said bar is attached it is flexibly as well as detachably secured to the hammock ends.

Changes or modifications in details of construction and arrangement may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention as set forth in the annexed claims.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a couch hammock having a seat frame, a pair of suspension chains and an upturned wind shield attached to each end of the frame, in combination, a flexible fabric back having an attached longitudinally extended stiffening bar spaced from the upper and lower edges of the back, terminal connections between the bar and the wind shields near the rear upright edges thereof at a single point only on each, means to connect in a readily detachable manner the portion of the back above said bar with the rearmost suspension chains, and means to adjust transversely of the hammock the portion of the back below said bar.

2. In a couch hammock having a seat frame, and attached end portions each comprising a pair of suspension chains and an upturned wind shield, in combination, a flexible fabric back having an attached longitudinally extended stiffening bar, means terminally connecting the latter and the said end portions adjacent the rear upright edges thereof, means to vary the effective height of the back independently of said connecting means, and other means to adjust the angle of the back independently of the said end portions.

3. In a couch hammock having a seat frame, a pair of suspension chains attached to each end thereof, a transverse spreader connected with and spacing each pair of chains, and a fabric wind shield attached to each spreader and to the adjacent end of the frame, said wind shield having a tubular pocket at each upright edge, to inclose the chains nearly up to the spreader, in combination, a flexible fabric back having a plurality of longitudinal, parallel and spaced stiffening bars attached thereto, readily detachable means to connect terminally the uppermost bar and the exposed portions of the chains above the tubular pockets, and other means to connect the adjacent stiffening bar with the Wind shields near their rear edges.

4. In a couch hammock having a seat frame, a pair of suspension chains attached to each end thereof, a transverse spreader connected with and spacing each pair of chains, and a fabric wind shield attached to each spreader and to the adjacent end of the frame, in combination, a flexible fabric back having a plurality of attached, parallel and spaced stilfening bars extended longitudinally thereof, readily separable connections between the terminals of the uppermost bar and the rear suspending chains only adjacent the spreaders, and different, non-interchangeable connections between the next adjacent bar and the wind shields to connect said parts in a substantially permanent manner, attachment and detachment of the upper bar respectively increasing and decreasing the effective height of the back.

5. In a couch hammock having a seat frame, and attached end portions each comprising a pair of suspension chains and an upturned wind shield, in combination, a flexible fabric back having attached longitudinally extended stiffening bars, means terminally connecting one of said bars and the said end portions adjacent the rear up right edges thereof, means to vary the effective height of the back independently of said connecting means, and means to adjust the angle of the back independently of the said end portions comprising flexible members attached to the lowermost stiffening bar.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM P. HAMMOND. RUSSELL w. SOULE,

Witnesses:

T. Gr. SUTHERLAND, I. Gr. KEENAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commiuioner of Patenh, Washington, D. 0. 

